US20220296787A1 - Antimicrobial body access system - Google Patents

Abstract

An antimicrobial catheter includes an elongated body adapted to be inserted into a body cavity of a patient that is not vascular or the urethra. An antimicrobial surface is positioned along an exterior circumferential surface of the elongated body, wherein the antimicrobial surface is configured to inhibit pathogens. The elongated body has at least one interior lumen defined by a sidewall forming the elongated body. The exterior circumferential surface extends between a first end of the elongated body and a second end of the elongated body.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
• This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/888,877, filed Aug. 19, 2019, entitled “VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR BODY ACCESS DEVICE”, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
• A volume of fluid can sometimes gather within a cavity location in a patient's body due to medical conditions such as cancer. In such situations, a medical practitioner can use a catheter or other body cavity access device to drain such fluid from the patient's body. Such a catheter can be a transcutaneously inserted catheter that is introduced into the body cavity such that a first portion, such as a distal end, is positioned in the body cavity of a patient while a second portion, such as a proximal end or proximal region, is positioned transcutaneously outside of a patient's body.
• Infection of the tissue at an insertion site or within a body cavity of the patient may occur during the insertion, use, and/or removal of a catheter from the body of a patient. The patient's skin, initially punctured by a needle or other transcutaneous access instrument to allow the insertion of a catheter through the skin and into an existing body cavity (such as the pleural space or abdominal space) may be exposed to infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other infectious agents disposed on and about the exterior surface of the skin. Such infectious agents may be drawn into the insertion site or body cavity through a contact with the exterior surface of a catheter with the skin, during the insertion, implementation, and removable of the catheter past the skin barrier.
• The infectious agents, can lead to inflammation and cell destruction in the tissues surrounding the body cavity, or other remote infection sites.
SUMMARY
• The disclosed device, system and method provides a solution to the shortcomings of such conventional catheters through the provision of an infectious agent-preventing antimicrobial feature that is coupled to the catheter such as via a coating or via a material that is used to manufacture the catheter. The antimicrobial feature thwarts the communication of infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses into the flesh below an insertion site, such as within a pre-existing body cavity in which the catheter is positioned.
• In one aspect, there is disclosed an antimicrobial catheter comprising: an elongated body adapted to be inserted into a body cavity of a patient that is not vascular or the urethra, the elongated body having at least one interior lumen defined by a sidewall forming the elongated body, the elongated body having an exterior circumferential surface extending between a first end of the elongated body and a second end of the elongated body; and an antimicrobial surface positioned along the circumferential surface, wherein the antimicrobial surface is configured to inhibit pathogens.
• In another aspect, there is disclosed a method of draining fluid from a body cavity, comprising: inserting a catheter into the body cavity, wherein the body cavity is a pre-existing cavity that is present prior to insertion of the catheter, and wherein the catheter comprises: an elongated body adapted to be inserted into a body cavity of a patient, the elongated body having at least one interior lumen defined by a sidewall forming the elongated body, the elongated body having an exterior circumferential surface extending between a first end of the elongated body and a second end of the elongated body; and an antimicrobial surface positioned along the circumferential surface, wherein the antimicrobial surface is configured to inhibit inhibiting pathogens; and using the catheter to drain fluid out of the body cavity.
• The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a catheter access system configured to allow fluid access to a body cavity from an extracorporeal location.
• FIGS. 1A and 2 shows a non-limiting example catheter access system configured to allow fluid access to a body cavity from an extracorporeal location.
• FIG. 3 shows the example catheter access system in an exploded state.
• FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a valved connector of the system.
• FIG. 5 shows a distal view of the valved connector.
• FIG. 6 shows internal components as they are arranged within an outer housing of the valved connector.
• FIG. 7 shows the internal components in an exploded state.
• FIG. 8 shows the valved connector coupled to a sheath of the access system.
• FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of the collective assembly of the sheath and the valved connector inserted into a patient.
• FIGS. 10 and 11 show cross-sectional view of the catheter access system in the region of the valve connector.
• FIG. 12 shows a schematic representation of the collective assembly of the sheath, the valved connector, and the catheter inserted into a body cavity of the patient.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Disclosed herein is an antimicrobial coated catheter system for internal, non-vascular body cavities. Such body cavities typically are non-communicating (in a natural state that has not been manually intervened) to the outside of a patient and can be, for example, chest cavities and abdominal cavities although other cavities are within the scope of this disclosure. The cavity can be transcutaneously accessed using a catheter, such as for the purpose of drainage (like pleural or peritoneal drainage) or fluid exchange like peritoneal dialysis. Vascular or urinary antimicrobial catheters already exist but not for these cavity drainage applications.
• The catheter can be made of any of a variety of materials and can be coated with an antimicrobial material. In a nonlimiting implementation, the catheter can be silicon, polyurethane, or Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The antimicrobial agent that coats the catheter can be silver, antimicrobial agents chlorhexidine, triclosan, or antibiotics like nitrofural, minocycline-rifampin in non-limiting examples. The antimicrobial agent in the coating can be eluting or non-eluting.
• The catheter device provides a solution to the shortcomings in prior art through the provision of an antimicrobial exterior surface of catheter devices employed to communicate through the skin and to the body cavity. An antimicrobial surface area is positioned upon the catheter, such as along the entire length of the catheter or along one or more portions of the catheter. The one or more portions can be, for example, one or both distal ends of a catheter or a portion of the catheter that is located within the body cavity when the catheter is transcutaneously positioned in the body cavity. In this manner, during any communication of the catheter device through the skin, and into the patient, bacteria, viruses and other infectious occupants of the exterior and any underlying layers of skin, have direct contact with the antimicrobial coating.
• In an implementation, the catheter uses bio-compatible surface coating in combination with the antimicrobial exterior surface coating. For example, by positioning a thin surface area of titanium on the exterior circumferential surface of polyurethane and other catheters in combination with an antimicrobial coating, the device and method herein renders conventional catheters into catheters with increased bio-compatibility as well as prevents the introduction of surface bacteria into the insertion site.
• Any of a variety of antimicrobial materials may be employed. In addition to materials recited above, other example materials include one or a combination of antimicrobial materials from a group including nitrofurazone-coated silicone or silver or silver ions or silver nano-particles in a coating, or copper or copper bearing materials in a coating, chlorhexidine incorporated hydroxylapatite coatings, chlorhexidine-containing polylactide coatings on an anodized surface, and polymer and calcium phosphate coatings with chlorhexidine, and aluminum and aluminum ions. However, in other implementations the catheter may be impregnated or otherwise formed with antimicrobial materials and properties.
• FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of acatheter305 inserted into a patient101 such that thecatheter305 communicates with abody cavity1015 of thepatient1010, wherein thebody cavity1015 is filled at least partially with fluid. Thecatheter305 may be part of a catheterbody access system105 configured to allow fluid access to a body cavity (such as a pleural space in the body of a human or animal patient) from an extracorporeal location. Thebody cavity1015 can be any fluid-filled cavity within the patient. In an embodiment, thebody cavity1015 is a pleural space of a patient. In another embodiment, thebody cavity1015 is a pre-existing cavity of a patient such that the cavity was not artificially formed or created by an intervention.
• Thecatheter305 is an elongated body having at least one internal lumen. Thecatheter305 can be a cylindrical body with a single internal lumen that extends through the entire length of thecatheter305. In user, the distal end thecatheter305 is transcutaneously inserted into a patient's body and moved through the body so that the distal end is positioned within thebody cavity1015. Thus, the internal lumen of thecatheter305 fluidly communicates with thebody cavity1015. In this manner, thecatheter305 provides extracorporeal access to thebody cavity1015. Fluid of thebody cavity1015 can flow into the internal lumen of thecatheter305 and out of the catheter via an opening in the proximal end.
• Thecatheter305 can be formed of conventional materials such as polyurethane, silicone, or polytetrafluoroethylene (“PTFE”). However, it can also be formed of any material suitable for use in combination with the disclosed coating of an antimicrobial material for the purposes set forth in this disclosure. Thecatheter305 can alternatively be formed all, or partially, itself of an antimicrobial impregnated material in a solid solution, or any other means to impart antimicrobial properties therein to communicate with the circumferential surface.
• The antimicrobial coating may be applied by any conventional means known in the art such as vacuum chamber coating, plasma coating, employment of an antimicrobial material in an impregnated polymer or other carrier used as coatings, or impregnating the proximal and distal ends of the catheter itself, or other means which would occur to those skilled in the art. The antimicrobial materials could also include one or a combination of antimicrobial materials from a group including nitrofurazone-coated silicone or silver or silver ions or silver nano-particles, copper or copper bearing materials in a coating, or impregnated into the material forming the catheter, or shrunk wrapped. Other antimicrobial materials may be also placed adjacent in combination with the titanium such as one or a combination of, chlorhexidine incorporated hydroxylapatite coatings, chlorhexidine-containing polylactide coatings on an anodized surface, and polymer and calcium phosphate coatings with chlorhexidine, in a coating or mixed in a polymer coating.
• In an embodiment, the antimicrobial feature is located at just the proximal portion or distal portion of thecatheter305. In the case of it being located at just a proximal portion, the antimicrobial portion protrudes from the insertion site communicating through the patient's skin, once the insertion procedure is complete. The placement of the coating on the proximal portion which communicates through the skin surface inhibits pathogen travel along the catheter surface and below the skin surface of the patient which is the first barrier to such intrusions.
• The coating can be located on an exterior surface of the catheter, on an interior surface of the catheter, or on both the interior surface an exterior surface. In addition, the coating can be located on just a portion of the length of the catheter (such as along intermittent lengths of the catheter). In addition, the coating can be located and extend around an entire circumference of the catheter or along portions thereof either on the interior surface, the exterior surface, or both. The interior surface of the catheter can be a portion of the catheter that defines an internal lumen.
• In another embodiment, the entire length of an exterior surface of thecatheter305 may additionally employ antimicrobial materials thereon singularly or in combination, or may have a titanium surface alone since it provides a means for encouraging lubricity. Alternatively, the titanium surface area on the entire circumferential surface may be employed in combination with one or a combination of the other noted antimicrobials herein.
• In a non-limiting embodiment, thecatheter305 is configured pursuant to thebody access system105 described inFIGS. 1A-13, wherein the system includes a valved connector device that can be attached with and/or incorporated into a body fluid access device, such as a fluid drainage sheath or catheter. The valved connector includes a valve that automatically opens when a secondary device, such as a catheter or tubing, is properly attached to the valved connector. When opened, the valved connector permits fluid flow therethrough so that fluid can be drained from a location, such as a fluid cavity of a patient. The valved connector is closed in a default state and automatically transitions to the closed state when the secondary device is decoupled from the valved connector. In this manner, hemostasis through the body fluid access device in a default state.
• FIGS. 1A, 2, and 3 show a catheterbody access system105 configured to allow fluid access to a body cavity (such as a pleural space in the body of a human or animal patient) from an extracorporeal location. The system can also be used in a colorectal environment. Theaccess system105 includes a valve assembly orvalved connector310 that provides a regulated, fluid flow interface for a lumen of a body access sheath315 (FIG. 3) or any device that is configured to access fluid within a body. Thebody access sheath315 is an elongated device with an internal lumen that can be placed in extracorporeal communication with a fluid-filled body cavity or other location of a patient. The internal lumen of thebody access sheath315 provides a passageway for fluid to be drained out of the body cavity. Thevalved connector310, when coupled to thebody access sheath315, regulates flow of fluid into and out of the lumen of thebody access sheath315. A secondary access device, such as a catheter305 (FIG. 3), can be coupled to thebody access sheath315, as described below.
• Thevalved connector310,catheter305, andsheath315 are sized and shaped to be co-axially aligned and coupled to one another along a common long axis.FIG. 1A shows thevalved connector310,catheter305, andsheath315 in a coupled or assembled state so that the devices collectively form a unitary body. The devices include coupling mechanisms that permit a user to securely couple the devices to one another when co-axially aligned. For example, as shown in FIG.1A, thecatheter305 includes acoupler110, such as a Luer-type connector, that removably connects and secures to a portion of thevalved connector310 in order to secure thecatheter305 to thevalved connector310 such as via a threaded interface.FIG. 2 shows thesystem105 with thecoupler110 removed from thecatheter305 in order to show a threadedinterface205 of thevalved connector310, wherein the threadedinterface205 attaches to thecoupler110 of thecatheter305.
• FIG. 3 shows theaccess system105 in an exploded state with thevalved connector310,catheter305, andsheath315 separated from one another. Thecatheter305 includes an elongated body, such as aneedle320, that has ahub330 on a proximal end. As mentioned, thehub330 has a coupler110 (shown inFIG. 1A) that can removably couple to a complementary threadedinterface205 of thevalved connector310. In the illustrated, example embodiment, thecoupler110 couples to the threadedinterface205 in a male-female relationship. Thecoupler110 is rotatably attached to thehub330 so that can rotate and threadedly attach to the threadedinterface205 of thevalved connector310.
• With reference still toFIG. 3, theneedle320 of thecatheter305 has an internal lumen that runs the length of theneedle320 and that communicates with thehub330. Fluid can flow into and out of the internal lumen of theneedle320 via a distal opening in the needle such as at a distal-most tip of theneedle320. An internal lumen of thehub330 communicates with the internal lumen of theneedle320 and also communicates with a distal opening of thehub330. In this manner, fluid can flow into the internal lumen of the needle and into thehub330 and eventually out of the distal opening of thehub330. Thesystem105 can further include a plug that inserts into the distal opening of thehub330 to seal the opening closed.
• As shown inFIG. 3, thesheath315 includes anelongated cannula325 with acannula hub335 on its proximal end. Thecannula hub335 has a threadedinterface340 that couples to a distal portion of thevalved connector310 such as in a threaded, male-female relationship. Thecannula325 of thesheath315 has an internal lumen that runs the length of thecannula325 and that communicates with thecannula hub335. Fluid can flow into and out of the internal lumen of thecannula325 via a distal opening in thecannula325 such as at a distal-most tip of thecannula325. An internal lumen of thehub335 communicates with the internal lumen of thecannula325 and also communicates with a distal opening of thehub335. When thevalved connector310 is attached to thesheath315, thevalved connector310 controls fluid flow through the internal lumen of thesheath315, as described below.
• The internal lumen of thecannula315 is sized and shaped to co-axially receive theneedle320 of thecatheter305. In this manner, thesheath315 andcatheter305 can be co-axially aligned when theneedle320 is inserted into thecannula325. Theneedle320 can have a length that is longer than the length of thecannula325 so that a distal end of theneedle320 pokes out of the distal end of the cannula in the assembled device, such as shown inFIG. 1A.
• As shown inFIG. 1A, thevalved connector310 can be positioned between thehub335 of thesheath315 and thehub330 of thecatheter305. The valved connector lockingly secures to thehub335 of thesheath315 and thehub330 of thecatheter305. When aligned and secured as such, theneedle320 of the catheter is positioned co-axially within thecannula325 of the sheath with thevalved connector310 acting as a valved interface between thesheath315 and thecatheter305.
• FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of thevalved connector310.FIG. 5 shows another perspective view of thevalved connector310. Thevalved connector310 includes anouter housing405 having a main body from which a neck extends. In the illustrated embodiment, the neck is circular in cross-section and has a smaller diameter than the diameter of a distal portion of themain body405. The neck forms the threadedinterface205, which securely and sealingly couples to the coupler110 (FIG. 1A) of thecatheter305 in a male-female relationship such as by rotating relative to one another. Adistal interface410 of thevalved connector310 is configured to couple to the threaded interface340 (FIG. 3) of thecannula hub335, as described further below. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer housing is substantially cylindrical although the shape may vary.
• As shown in the proximal view ofFIG. 5, thedistal interface410 of the valved connector has a threaded region (such as a threaded female surface), which is configured to couple in a rotatable, threaded manner to the threaded interface340 (FIG. 3) of thecannula hub335. That is, the threadedinterface340 inserts into thedistal interface410 of the valved connector and the two securely and sealingly couple to one another by a threaded engagement. When coupled as such, the internal lumen of thecannula315 fluid communicates with an internal lumen ofvalved connector310 such that fluid must flow through the valved connector in order to flow into or out of the internal lumen of thecannula315 via thecannula hub340.
• Theouter housing405 of thevalved connector310 defines an internal lumen that contains several components of thevalved connector310, wherein the components control fluid flow through thevalved connector310.FIG. 6 shows the internal components as they are arranged within an internal chamber of theouter housing405 of thevalved connector310. The outer housing of thevalved connector310 is not shown inFIG. 6 for clarity of illustration.FIG. 7 shows the internal components in an exploded state.
• With reference toFIGS. 6 and 7, the internal components include anelongated piston605 having an internal lumen, which co-axially aligns with the long axis of the assembled system. Thepiston605 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a sloped, distal end that reduces in transverse dimension (relative to the long axis) moving in a distal direction. That is, a diameter of the piston gradually reduces or tapers moving in a distal direction. In the assembledvalved connector310, thepiston605 is slidably positioned within the neck of theouter housing405.
• The internal components further include a roundfirst seal disk610 made of a malleable material that can seal with thepiston605 when in contact therewith. Thefirst seal disk610 has aslit710 that extends through theseal disk610. The seal disk is made of a material such that the slit seals shut in a default state and can also be deformed and/or forced open such as when contacted with sufficient force by the distal end of the piston. Theslit710 is sized to receive therethrough theneedle320 of thecatheter305.
• The internal components further include aseparator disk615 positioned in a juxtaposed, contacting relationship with thefirst seal disk610 and asecond seal disk620. Theseparator disk615 is interposed between thefirst seal disk610 andsecond seal disk620 in the assembled state, as shown inFIG. 6. Theseparator disk615 has acentral aperture715 with a chamfered, annular surface that surrounds theaperture715 on both sides of the separator disk. The chamfered surface of theseparator disk615 is such that a space is formed in the region of the chamfered surface between both thesecond seal disk620 and theseparator disk615, and also thefirst seal disk610 and theseparator disk615. The chamfered surface can exist on one or both sides of theseparator disk615.
• Thesecond seal disk620 also has acentral aperture720 that is sized and shaped to snugly receive therethrough theneedle320 of thecatheter305. Thesecond seal disk620 is also made of a resilient, flexible material.
• With reference still toFIGS. 6 and 7, thedistal interface410 of thevalved connector310 has afront face725 that is juxtaposed with the second seal disk620 (in the assembled state) such that a central opening in thedistal interface410 co-axially aligns with thecentral apertures720 and715 and also with theslit710. Thedistal interface410,second seal disk620,separator disk615, andfirst seal disk610 all have round outer shapes that fit snug within the main body405 (FIGS. 4 and 5) in the assembled state. Thepiston605 is slidably positioned within the neck of themain body405 in the assembled state.
• AlthoughFIGS. 1A-3 show theaccess system105 including a secondary access device comprising acatheter305, it should be appreciated that variety of types and configurations of secondary access devices can be utilized in connection withvalved connector310. For example, thevalved connector310 can be attached to an access device that does not having a threaded connector. Thevalved connector310 can also be secured to a catheter, tubing, or other apparatus or can be secured to an apparatus that is not directly in fluid communication with the volume of fluid in a body, but that is instead connected to a secondary apparatus. The valved connector can also be used to control the flow of fluid from one location to another location. For example, the valved connector can be used with an infusate bag or medical tubing that is not in communication with a patient's body. In another embodiment, thevalved connector310 can be an integral part of thesheath315 such that the valved connector is not removable from thesheath315. Thevalved connector310 can also be attached upstream or downstream of the valved connector via tubing.
• In use, thevalved connector310 is coupled to thesheath315 such as by attaching thedistal interface410 of thevalved connector310 to the threadedinterface340 at the proximal end of thesheath315. As mentioned, thedistal interface410 can be rotatably attached in a threaded manner to the threadedinterface340 to securely attach thevalved connector310 to thesheath315. As mentioned, when attached as such, the internal lumen of thecannula325 co-axially aligns with the internal lumen of thevalved connector310. In this manner, thevalved connector310 controls fluid flow (such as by inhibiting, permitting, or blocking flow) through thesheath315 and valved connector based upon the state of the internal components of the valved connector. In an alternate embodiment, thevalve connector310 is integrally formed as part of thesheath315.
• FIG. 8 shows thesheath315 and thevalved connector310 attached to one another after thevalved connector310 has been coupled to thehub335 of thesheath315. As mentioned, thevalved connector310 attaches to the proximal end of thesheath315 at thecannula hub335. Once attached as such, the collective assembly of thesheath315 and thevalved connector310 can be inserted by a user into fluid communication with a body cavity of a patient.
• FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of the collective assembly of thesheath315 and thevalved connector310 inserted into a patient101 such that thesheath315 communicates with abody cavity1015 of thepatient1010, wherein thebody cavity1015 is filled at least partially with fluid. Thebody cavity1015 can be any fluid-filled cavity within the patient. In an embodiment, thebody cavity1015 is a pleural space of a patient. The distal end of the cannula of thesheath315 is positioned within thebody cavity1015 such that the internal lumen of thesheath315 fluidly communicates with thebody cavity1015. In this manner, thesheath315 provides extracorporeal access to thebody cavity1015. Fluid of thebody cavity1015 can flow into the internal lumen of thesheath315 wherein thevalved connector310 controls or regulates fluid flow out of thesheath315. As mentioned, in a default state, thevalved connector310 is closed such that it blocks fluid from flowing out of thesheath315. A lumen of thevalved connector310 is collectively formed by thecentral apertures720 and715 (FIG. 7) and theslit710. This internal lumen of thevalved connector310 is initially closed as a result of bulk resilience of the material of thefirst disk610 maintaining theslit710 in a sealed, close state.
• Thevalved connector310 can be opened for fluid flow therethrough by coupling a secondary device, such as thecatheter305, to thevalved connector310. As the secondary device, such as thecatheter305, is inserted into thevalved connector310, a portion of the secondary device directly or indirectly deforms theslit710 to thereby open theslit710 and allow fluid flow therethrough. The process of coupling secondary device to thevalved connector310 andsheath315 is now described in the example context of coupling thecatheter305 to thevalved connector310 andsheath315.
• Thecatheter305 is coupled to thevalved connector310 by inserting theneedle320 of thecatheter305 into the internal lumen of thevalved connector310 so that thesheath315,valved connector310, andcatheter305 collectively form a single assembly, as shown inFIG. 1A. As mentioned, the various coupling components can be secured to one another to thereby secure the devices in an assembled state. Thecatheter305 can be advance distally into and relative to thevalved connector310 and thesheath315 such that theneedle320 advances into the internal lumen of thevalved connector310 and the internal lumen of thesheath315. As thecatheter305 is coupled or advanced into to thevalve connector310, the catheter automatically transitions thevalved connector310 to the open state so that fluid can flow therethrough.
• This is described in more detail with reference toFIGS. 10 and 11, which show cross-sectional view of thecatheter access system105 in the region of thevalve connector310 with theneedle320 of thecatheter305 inserted through thevalved connector310. Thecannula315 is not shown inFIGS. 10 and 11 for clarity of illustration. As thecatheter305 advances distally, a portion of the catheter305 (such as a distal portion of the hub330) abuts and pushes thepiston605 in a distal direction toward thefirst seal disk610.
• The distal end of thepiston605 moves distally (through the neck of the main body405) so that it contacts thefirst seal disk610. The distal end of thepiston605 exerts a force om thefirst seal disk610 so as to deform thefirst seal disk610 in a manner that opens the slit710 (FIG. 11). As mentioned, theseparator disk615 is shaped so that a space1105 (FIG. 11) is formed between thefirst seal disk610 and theseparator disk615. This space provides for a region of movement and deformation of thefirst seal disk610 as thepiston605 pushes against the first seal disk506. Thespace1105 is sufficiently large such that thefirst seal disk610 can sufficiently deform within thespace1105 so that theslit710 opens and provides a passageway for fluid to flow therethrough.
• This creates a fluid passageway within thevalved connector310 through theslit710 in a region that surrounds theneedle320 with the fluid passageway collectively formed by formed by thecentral apertures720 and715 (FIG. 7) and theslit710 within thevalved connector310. Fluid can pass through this fluid passageway, which automatically opens upon coupling of the catheter305 (or other secondary device) to thevalved connector310. Upon removal or de-coupling of thecatheter305 from thevalved connector310, thepiston605 automatically disengages from contact with thefirst seal disk605. As mentioned, the first seal disk is made of a material such that the slit will automatically return to a closed state when the first seal disk is not deformed. In this manner, thefirst seal disk610 and thevalved connector310 automatically close to prevent fluid flow therethrough upon removal of thecatheter305.
• FIG. 12 shows a schematic representation of the collective assembly of thesheath315, thevalved connector310, and the catheter305 (or other such secondary access device) inserted into abody cavity1015 of thepatient1010. As mentioned, thesheath315 communicates with thebody cavity1015 such that the internal lumen of thesheath315 can be used to drain fluid out of thebody cavity105. With thecatheter305 coupled to thevalve connector310, thevalved connector310 is automatically opened to permit fluid flow out of thesheath315. As mentioned, other secondary devices aside from thecatheter305 can be coupled to thevalved connector310. Thecatheter305 is just a non-limiting example.
• While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of an invention that is claimed or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or a variation of a sub-combination. Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Only a few examples and implementations are disclosed. Variations, modifications and enhancements to the described examples and implementations and other implementations may be made based on what is disclosed.

Claims (7)

1. An antimicrobial catheter comprising:

an elongated body adapted to be inserted into a body cavity of a patient that is not vascular or the urethra, the elongated body having at least one interior lumen defined by a sidewall forming the elongated body, the elongated body having an exterior circumferential surface extending between a first end of the elongated body and a second end of the elongated body; and

an antimicrobial surface positioned along the circumferential surface, wherein the antimicrobial surface is configured to inhibit pathogens.

2. The antimicrobial catheter ofclaim 1, wherein the antimicrobial surface area extends along an entire length of the elongated body.

3. The antimicrobial catheter ofclaim 1, wherein the antimicrobial surface area extends along only a portion of a length of the elongated body.

4. The antimicrobial catheter ofclaim 1, wherein the antimicrobial surface comprises silicon, polyurethane or Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

5. The antimicrobial catheter ofclaim 1, wherein the antimicrobial surface comprises silver, chlorhexidine, or triclosan.

6. The antimicrobial catheter ofclaim 1, wherein the antimicrobial surface comprises nitrofural, minocycline-rifampin in non-limiting examples.

7. A method of draining fluid from a body cavity, comprising:

inserting a catheter into the body cavity, wherein the body cavity is a pre-existing cavity that is present prior to insertion of the catheter, and wherein the catheter comprises:

an elongated body adapted to be inserted into a body cavity of a patient, the elongated body having at least one interior lumen defined by a sidewall forming the elongated body, the elongated body having an exterior circumferential surface extending between a first end of the elongated body and a second end of the elongated body; and

an antimicrobial surface positioned along the circumferential surface, wherein the antimicrobial surface is configured to inhibit inhibiting pathogens;

using the catheter to drain fluid out of the body cavity.

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